Automatic sprinkler timing



Feb. 8, 1966 N. o. SHERMAN 3,234,410

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING Original Filed Nov. 2. 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENT OR Nelson 0. Sherman .BY JM W4-M ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1966 N. D. SHERMAN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING l2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed Nov. 2, 1961 E m c MM. 82 39 E0 I j 7 mum 8m. 9 m mmw wwmw wm 82 mmmm hmmm m m Em DIP Om; UDP ZOE 23m INVENTOR Nelson D.Shermon ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1966 N. 0. SHERMAN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING Criginal Filed Nov. 2. 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY 3 Feb. 8, 1966 N. D. SHERMAN 3,234,410

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING Original Filed Nov. 2. 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 4 LO w m f in m I w. w m N INVENTOR Nelson 0. Sherman O LD N) ATTORNEYS- Feb. 8, 1966 N. m. $HERMAM I 3,334,410

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING Criginal Filed Nov. 2. 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY S Feb. 8, 1966 N. D. SHERMAN 3,234,410

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING Original Filed Nov. 2, 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR Nelson D. Sherman BY JW,%1/w

ATTORNEYS Feb; 8, 1966 SHERMAN 3,234,410

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING I Original Filed Nov. 2, 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 BY JW, @1400 9 722460 ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1966 N. o. SHERMAN 3, 0

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING Original Filed Nov. 2, 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 8 INVENTOR Nelson D. Sherman ATTORNEYS 1966 N. o. SHERMAN AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING Original Filed Nov. 8, 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 9 /llIIIIIIIIInII/IIIIIIIIIIIII INVENTOR Nelson DShermon BY JM,7Z0Zam/47Zm&

ATTORNEY 5' Feb. 8, 1966 N, SHERMAN 3,234,410

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING Original Fil ed Nov. 2. 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 10 u All A' l B|l L Bll l I I I i i II II L J l c C i E 1 I INVENTOR D D Nelson D. Sherman l- V E" .L l

fi BY g m, Mq M ATTORNEYS Feb. 8; 1966 N. o. SHERMAN 3,234,410

' AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING Criginal Filed Nov. 2. 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 11 E75 0 INVENT OR Nelson D. Sherman BY JAM, MM

ATTORNEYS Feb. 8, 1966 N. D. SHERMAN 3,234,410-

AUTOMATIC SPRINKLER TIMING Original Filed Nov. 2. 1961 12 Sheets-Sheet 1a Toed WW w

II II /ll8c| (3 1220 |22bll24 llZZC CEIZZd INVENTOR 7 a a Nelson DShermon BY 45 M, i aamw 7204.24

ATTORNEYS threaded enlarged head fastener 62. Each piston 60 is slidably mounted in valve assembly body 52 with a fiat surface 64, extending the length of enlarged diameter vpistonportion 66, allowing water to pass from inlet 54 to the top of piston 60 to bias valve member 58 into engagement with valve seat 50.

Piston 60 slides up anddown on a centrally disposed tube 68 press fitted, at its upper end, to a retainer 70 which is retained within a depending cylindrical portion of a hollow nut 72 by a spring fastener 74. Nut 72 is threaded into the upper end of valve assembly body 52 with an O-ring 76 mounted on the depending cylindrical portion thereof engaging the horizontal and vertical surfaces of an annular notch77 in the upper end of valve assembly body 52 to prevent leakage. A compression spring 7 8 extends downwardly from the bottom surface of nut 72 and biases a second O-ring 78a disposed around tube 68 against a conical seat 79 located interiorly of the piston.

A neoprene washer 79a disposed in an annular recess 79b of retainer 70 in vertically spaced relationship to the upper end of tube 68 forms a valve seat for a pilot valve 80. Pilot valve 80, the body of which is of hexagonal cross-section, is slidably mounted in a tube 82 soldered or brazed at its lower end to hollow nut 72 and comprises the armature of a solenoid 84. A plug 86 soldered or brazed into the upper end of tube 82 seals the upper end of the tube and limits the upward travel of pilot valve 80. A non-magnetic washer 88 disposed within tube 82 adjacent the lower end of plug 86 insures that residual magnetism in plug 86 will not keep pilot valve 80 in its upper position after the flow of current to solenoid 84 is cut 011. Spring 89a, which is attached (to the upper end of pilot valve 80 and extends upwardly through Washer 88 into a cylindrical recess 89b in plug 86, biases the pilot valve into engagement with its seat 79.

Solenoids 84a'd are mounted on a horizontally disposed plate 90 attached to the top of hollow nuts 72 with tubes 82 extending upwardly through appropriate holes in the plate. A longitudinally extending spacer 92, slidingly received over the upper endsof tubes '82, isdispOsed adjacent the upper endsof solenoids 84a-d in peripheral engagement with a U-shaped channel 93 and a hollow,

tend through cover 94 and channel 93 into threaded engagement with the barrierstripr A pair of terminals 104 and 106 are threaded into each of the barrier strip segments 108a-d. Terminals '104a-d are connected by leads 1 12ad to the Winding of solenoids 84a -d Leads 114 connect solenoids 84a-d to a return lead 116 which is connected to contact 104e in segment. 1'10. Contacts 4106a-d in segments 108a-d are connected by leads 118a-d to timer terminals t1-2r2a--d and contact 106 in segment 110 is connected by lead- 120to timer terminal 124. Leadsj1d8a-d and 120 extend through an aperture in plate 90 within which is disposed a friction-reducing and insulating washer 126.

Referring now toFIGU RES 8 and 20, each of the .valves 48,-all of which are identical, operates asfollows:

Water entering valve assembly 32 under pressure through inlet 54 flows upwardly to the top of piston 60 between casing 52 andflat piston surface 64. The pressure of this water acting on the top of piston 60 moves it downward until valve member 58 engages valve seat 50. When a solenoid 84 is activatedby timer 28, the valve 80, which forms the armature of solenoid 84, is drawn upwardly from its seat 79 into the core of the solenoid, allowing the water which was exerting pressure on the top of piston 60 to flow into the upper end of tube '68. This water then flows downwardly through tube 68 and out outlet 56, relieving the pressure on the top of piston 60.

The water pressure acting upwardly on the horizontal surfaces of piston 60, is, at this point, greater than the pressure acting downwardly on its top. The differential pressure rnoves piston 60 upward, raising valve 58 from its seat and allowing water to flow from inlet 54 through valve seat 50 and out outlet 56 into supply pipe 41. Pilot valve will remain in the open position until the current to solenoid 84 is cut off. Then it will drop, by gravity and light spring pressure, into engagement with its seat 79. Since the water flowing in through inlet'54 upward between casing 52 and flat piston surface 64 can no longer escape through pipe 68 at this point, it will again exert pressure on the top of piston 60, moving it downward and forcing valve 58 into engagement with seat 50, thus cutting 011 the flow of water from inlet 54 to outlet 56.

Looking now to FIGURE 7, timer 28 includes, in general, a synchronous motor v128 havingan output shaft which revolves of a revolution per day and drives a contact arm 130 that completes a circuit from transformer 132 to, successively, each of the seven contacts 18411-5 Each of the contacts 1'34a-g is, therefore, engaged by brush 130 for a twenty four hour period during one of the seven days of the week. Contacts 134a-g are connected through associated switches -136a-g to a contact segment 138 and through a further switch 140 to a second contact segment 142. Thus, by opening the appropriate switch 136ag, the circuits to contact segments 138 and 142 are interrupted during the days that contact arm 130 is in contact with the contacts 134a-g connected to the open switches. As a result, solenoids 84a-d will not be activated on those days and the lawn will not be watered.

On the other hand, if during the period contact arm 130 is in contact with contact 134a, for example, switches 136a and. 140 are closed, parallel circuits will be completed to contact segments 138 and 142. Then successive circuits will be completed-from segments 138 and 142 to solenoids 84a-d during this period as follows: A second synchronous motor 144 has an output which revolves once every 24 hours and drives contact arm or brush assemblies 146 and 148. These brush assemblies are arranged to complete circuits from, respectively, contact segments 138 .and 142 to, successively, contact slides ad (which are connected through terminals 122a'd to solenoids 84a-d) to activate the valving members 48 to the open position so that the lawn will be watered. Rotation of dials 162a-d (see FIGURE 2) adjusts the relative position of contact slides 16llad and thereby,

in a manner which will later be explained in detail, determines the length of time that contact arm assemblies 146 and 148 will remain in engagement with the contact slides and, therefore, the length of the periods for which solenoids 84a-dwill maintain valves 48 open. The length 'of these periods determines the amountof water delivered to each lawn area.

The timer mechanism is contained in a hollow, forwardly open casing 164 (best shown in FIGURES 5 and 9) in which is mounted a guide element 166 extend- .ing continuously around the inner periphery of the cover gagement with tapped apertures 172 in guide element 166.

A vertically extending plate 174 mounted within and flush with the rear edge of guide element 166 abuts the inwardly extending legs of L-shaped brackets 176- (not all of which are shown). tached to casing 164 in any suitable manner.

wan index. 226 is located immediately above the slot.

. ro'tating-knob .224, the segment 218 lettered with, the

Brackets 176 are rigidly at- It may in some instances be desirable to flush mount timer 28 within a wall or like structure. In this case,

casing 164 is not employed, plate 174 being attached directly to the mounting structure by screws or other suitable fastening means. i

, Synchronous motor 128which, it will be remembered, establishes the successiveteircuits to the seven contacts 134ag representing the seven days of the week, is mount- -ed on plate 174 with its outputshaft 182 extending forwardly through an aperture in the plate. As shown in FIGURES 5, 11 and 12, a forwardly extending shaft 184 is operativelyconnected to motor output shaft 182 --by a friction clutch 186 which allows one of these shafts to be rotated relative to the other bythe person setting the timer. i

A reduced diameter end :portion 190 (FIGURE 5) of a sleeve 192" non-rotatably mounts the electrically conductive contact arm 130. Sleeve 192 is non-rotatably and slidably mounted upon shaft .184 by the engagement of flat shaftsurface 196 (FIGURE 12) on shaft 184 with aIcOrrespOnding surface 197 in bore198 of sleeve 192. Extended flat surface 200 on end portion 190 of sleeve 192 cooperates with ,a similar internal surface 201 on contact arm130to fix it to the sleeve 192.

Sleeve 192 extends forwardly and is dimensioned to bias a peripheral annular portion 202 (FIGURE 12) of "contact arm 130 into engagement with an electrically conductive ring .203 (FIGURE 5).

mounted in an aperture in a commutator block 204 at- .tached by integral leg I portions 206 (only one of which is shown). to plate .174. Sleeve 192, additionally, biases an integral arm. portion 207 (FIGURE 12) of contact .arm130 into, engagement with the equidistantlycircum- .ferentially spaced contacts 134a-g (see also FIGURE 7) corresponding tothe days of the week which are mounted on the forwardside of commutator block 204.

.tion..212 cooperating with a similar internal surface 217 on dia1..214 to rotatively fix these elementsx The face of dial. 214isdivide'd into seven equal segments 218, each lettered with one of :the. daysof the week. Each (of the segments 218isfurther. equally divided into a .lightacolored area..220 and a dark-colored area 222.

Aiknob 224 (FIGURE .5) is. non-rotatably mounted 'on the outermost end of shaft 184 in any convenient manner. .An .arcuate sloti225. is providedin cover 168 (see FIGURE 2) opposite the let'teringon dial 214,and y present day.of the week may be made to appear in slot .225. Thispositions the contact arm 130 on the contact .j 134a-g corresponding to that day. ;By positioning the light-colored areav 220 or the dark-colored area 222, as appropriate, with respect to index 226, the operator may .position contact arm ,130 so that it will disengage from .the corresponding contact 134a-g at the end ofthe day. Lookingnext to, FIGURES 6 and 1419, synchronous motor 144,which rotates contact arm assemblies 146 and 148 once every day to complete circuits from the operative day contact 134mg through ,areuate contact segments ,138 and 142 (providing switch 140 and the appropriate 'dayswitch 136a-g is closed) to, in succession, solenoids 84ad, ismounted on plate 174. Its output shaft 240 extends forwardly through an aperturein plate 174 and a corresponding, axially aligned aperture in insulating ,pad.242. As is shown in FIGURE 14, a forwardly extending shaft 248 is operatively connected to motor output shaft 240 by a friction clutch .249 which allows one of these shafts to be rotated relative to the other when the timer is set.

Contact arm assembly 146 comprises an elongated con- Ring 203 is fixedly.

end, in a rearwardly extending mounting portion 256 (FIGURES 3 and 15). A contact 258 is adjustably mounted upon rearwardly extending, contact arm mounting portion .256 by a screw 260 extending through an elongated slot 262 into threaded engagement with the rearwardly extending portion 256. Contact 258 is bent, at its upper end, to a position overlying the upper surface of rearwardly extending contact portion 256. A laterally bent contactportion 266 terminates, at its lower end, in a horizontally bent, integral portion 268 adapted to slidingly engage the arcuate contact segment 138 which is attached to insulating pad 242. At its lower end, contact 258 terminates in an upwardly and rearwardly beveled portion 271 adapted to successively engage contact slides a-d. Thus, it will be seen that, as motor 144 rotates contact arm assembly 146 through its one revolution per day cycle, contact 258 establishes electrical continuity between contact segment 138 and, successively, contact slides 16011-d.

A vertically extending handle 290 is provided so that the operator may position beveled edge 271 of contact 258 with respect to the first-contacted edge of contact slide 160a. Since contact 258 is rotated at a uniform speed by motor 144, such positioning, in effect, determines the time of day at which contact 258 engages contact segment 138 and contact slide 160a. This, it will be apparent, determines the time at which solenoid 84a will be opened to begin the watering cycle. Handle 290 (FIGURE 16) is non-rotatably mounted on forwardly extending, reduced diameter portion 291 of contact arm 250 by the cooperation of a milled surface 292 on the contact arm and a corresponding milled surface 293 on handle 290. At its upper end, handle 290 terminates in an integral, forwardly bent portion 295 (FIGURES 6 and 16) and an integral downwardly bent portion 296 which slidingly engagesa peripheral portion of a Day dial 297 non-rotatably fixed on shaft 248 (FIGURE 6). A threaded extension 298 of a clamping knob or screw 299 extends through an aperture in downwardly extending handle portion 296 and into threaded engagement the corresponding juncture on the left side of the dial is labeled RM. The elongated peripheral hour indices 344 on the periphery of dial 297 are numbered from 1 to 12, beginning in the center of the areas 340 and 342 and proceeding counterclockwise. A somewhat shorter half-hour index 346 is located between adjacent hour indices 344 and a quarter-hour index 347 is located between adjacent half-hour indices 346. A reference index 348 is located on cover 168 opposite indices 344, 346 and 347. Dial 297 may be rotated by a knob 349 non-rotatably fixed to the outer end of shaft 248 in any convenient manner.

Dial 297 is, in effect, a clock face. To set this clock, dial 297 is rotated by knob 349 until the proper index 344, 346 or 347 appears opposite the index mark 348, Then handle 290 may be rotated until V-notch 300 appears opposite the time of day at which it is desired the watering cycle begin. By tightening clamping knob 299, handle 290 and the contact arm assembly 146 carrying contact 258 are rotatively fixed on dial 297 and, therefore, to motor shaft 248. By setting handle 290 to'a 'later time of day, contact 258 is moved further away from the leading edge of contact slide 160a and it will, therefore, be longer before it reaches the contact slide.

Contact arm assembly 148 comprises a contact arm 304 rotatably mounted on contact arm 250 and journalled terminates in a rearwardly extending, mounting portion 306 (see FIGURE 3). Mounted upon rearwardly extending portion 306 is a spring contact 308 which is physically and functionally similar to the contact 258 mounted upon contact arm 250 which was just described.

Spring contact 308 is mounted for slidable vertical ad- 'justment (see FIGURE 17) by a screw 310 extending through a vertically elongated slot 312 into threaded engagement with contact arm mounting portion 306 and is bent at its upper end to a position overlying the upper surface thereof. A laterally bent portion 314 of contact 308 terminates at its upper end in a horizontally extending, rearwardly bent portion 316 which is adapted to maintain sliding contact with arcuate contact segment 142. Contact segment 142 is fixedly attached to insulating pad 242 which separates contact segments 138 and 142 from metal plate 174. At its lower end,contact 308 terminates in an upwardly and rearwardly beveled portion 319 which is adapted to successively engage contact slides 160(1-d in the same manner as does beveled edge portion 271 of contact 258.

The opposite end of contact arm 304 (see FIGURE 18) terminates in an upwardly extending handle 330 juxtaposed to the rear face of dial 297. Handle 330 is constructed in substantially the same manner as handle 290 and is provided for the same purpose. At the upper end of handle 330, a forwardly extending, integral portion 332 terminates in an integral portion 334 extending downwardly over the peripheral portion of dial 297. A clamping screw 336 has a threaded extension 337 which extends through a horizontal aperture in downwardly extending portion 334 into threaded engagement with an axially aligned, threaded aperture in the upwardly extending portion of handle 330. Thus, handle 330 may be moved relative to, and then rotatively fixed to, dial 297 in the same manner and withthe same result as handle 290.

The apex of a downwardly opened, V-shaped notch 338 (FIGURE 3) at the lower end of downwardly extending handle portion 334 provides an indicator identical to indicator 300, and like the latter, enables the operator to accurately position handle 330 with respect to dial 297 to set the time of day at which the watering cycle will begin, the watering cycle in this case being the cycle providing the second daily watering period.

Referring next to FIGURES 3, 4 and 19, contact slides 160a-d which, as was indicated above, are successively contacted by contacts 258 and 308 to complete successive circuits to solenoids 84a-d, are, at one end, axially slidably mounted between an upper guide 350 and a lower guide 352. Contact slides 160zz-d are laterally spaced apart by depending upper guide fingers 351 and upwardly extending lower guide fingers 353. Upper guide 350 is -rigidly mounted on the forward side of plate 174 and lower guide 352 is attached to a guide rod positioning block 354 which is mounted on front cover 168. Contact slides 160ad are attached, at their opposite ends, by

screws 355, to slide blocks 356ad which are slidably disposed upon a pair of horizontally extending, vertically 'spacedfapart guide rods 358 (see FIGURE 6). The

guide rods 358 are rigidly attached at their respective ends to guide rod positioning blocks 354 and 360. Guide "block 360, like guide block 354, is rigidly mounted on front cover 168.

To further strengthen this structure U-shaped spring clips 361 are disposed in surrounding relationship over guide blocks 354 and 360 and connected together by springs 361a'hookedin eyes 361b formed in the ends of brackets 361c. A set screw 362 extends through a vertical side wall of each of the guideblocks 356 and into motion transmittingrelationship with square cut screw threads 364 of an adjusting screw 366. Screws 366 extend between adjacent guide blocks 356 and, at their opposite ends, into laterally drilled holes 368 and 370 in guide blocks 354, 356 and 360. Y

Slidably mounted upon guide screws 366' are the rotatably fixed knobs 162 which extend through slots 374 in front cover 68. The face of each knob is numbered from 5 to 30 in increments of 5, the numbers being equidistantly spaced about the periphery of the dial (see FIG- 5). Cooperating reference indices 163a-d are oppositely located on cover 68. By rotating knobs 162a-d,guide screws 366 are made to operatethrough set screws 362 to shift contact slides 160a-d. By shifting contact slides 160a-d the watering period in each of the lawn areas A-D may be varied since such shifting varies the length of the period for which the contacts 258 and 308 will engage the contact slides and, therefore, the length of the period for which solenoid valves 84a-d will remain open.

Switches 136a-g and 140 are mounted upon a bracket 375 and extend forwardly through slots '376 in front cover 168 to which the bracket is attached. As was pointed out above, if switch 136a, for example, is opened, the circuit to contact segments 138 and 142 will be interrupted during the twenty-four hour period contact arm 130 is in engagement with contact 134a. The watering cycle, then, will not take place during that'period. All

of the switches 134a-g function in the same manner.

FIGURE 7 is a partially schematicwiring diagram of timer 28. A llO-volt power source 379 is connected to the synchronous, one revolution per week motor 128 by leads 380 and 382; to the synchronous, one revolution per day motor 144 by a circuit comprising leads 382, 392, 396 and 380; and to the high voltage side of transformer 132 by a circuit comprising leads 380, 388 primarywinding 390, and leads 392 and 382.

Secondary winding 394 of transformer 132 is connected to ring 203 by lead 398. Contact arm 130, which is in continuous sliding engagement with ring 203, completes a circuit from it to, in succession, day of the week contacts 134a-g. Leads 400a-g complete-the circuits from above, output terminals 122a-d are connected through leads 118a-d to solenoids 84a-d in solenoid valve assembly 32. Solenoids 84a- -d are connected through acornmen return lead to terminal 124. Terminal 460 and lead 462 connect terminal 124 to secondary 394 of transformer 132. It is to be understood that terminal block 430 is constructed in the conventional manner to establish continuity between terminals 122a and 428a, 122b and I 428b, 122c and 4280, 122d and 428d, and 124 and 460.

The manner in which spring contacts 258 and 308 engage contact slides a-d may be seen in FIGURE 10 (only spring contact 258 is illustrated, but the'operation of spring contact 308 is identical); .Spring contact 258, rotated at the speed of one revolution per day in a clockwise direction by contact arm 250, moves from right to left in sliding engagement across a downwardly beveled surface 464 of top guide 350; it is biased downwardly by the springforming configuration of the contact into present invention.

engagement: with contact slide 16th:, the point at which this occurs being represented by line.A7A. Contact portion 271 slides. across the upper edge. of contact slide 160a until it reaches its left-hand edge, whereupon it drops off the end of contact slide 160a and is biased down by its spring-forming configuration into'engagement-with .point,that because of the upwardly and rearwardly beveled configuration of contact depending'portion 271,.con tact 2%" can engage only one contact slide at a time and,

therefore, the circuits through contact slides a d are completed' successively. This is an important aspect of the Because only one of the contact'slides is engaged by contact 258 at any given time, it follows necessarily that only one of the solenoid valves 84a-d is open atany one time since each of these solenoids is connected to the correspondingly lettered contact slide 160a-d only. As a result, only one of the valves 48 is open at any given time and full water pressure is sup- .plied in turn to each of the water distribution branches 3411-51. The arrangement described above has a second important aspect. This is that the contacts 258 and 308 are, because of their spring-like qualities, sharply disengaged from the Contact slides 160a-d when they reach the respective ends. ofthese slides; This action is effective to prevent arcing between the contactsand the contact slides.

Timer 23, described in detail above, is set for operation as follows: First, the operator. sets Day dial 297 to the exact timexof day by rotating knob 349 until the appropriate index on dial 297 is aligned with: reference index 348 on cover 168. The effect of this operation is to angularly displace shaft 184 with respect to output shaft 182 of synchronous motor128' which, itwill be remembered, rotates one revolution perd'ay. Next, the operator rotates knob 224..until the present. day of the week appears in slot 225 in cover 1.68,.approximating'the. present hour of the day by appropriately positioning light area 220 or dark area 222 of the colored segment associated with the proper day' of the week with. respect. to index 226 on cover 168. The effect of this operationv is rotatively fixed. By rotating handle 290, .the operator angularly displaces contact arm assembly 146- about the axis of reduced diameter portion 252 of shaft 248,. there-- by setting contact arm assembly 146 a distance from the end of contact slide160a which it will first con-tact corresponding to the delay ,that'it is desired ensue before the watering cycle begin.

If a second watering period is'desired, contact arm assembly 148 is positioned in .the same manner as was contact arma-ssentbly 146;'i.e., handle 33b isrotated until the apex of V-shaped notch 338 is opposite the time of day at which it is desired that the second watering cycle begin. Clamping screw 336 is then tightened to rotatively -fix contact arm assembly 148 to dial 297 and, therefore, to shaft 248. The operator must, also, close switch 140 to complete the alternative circuit to arcuate contact segment 142. r

The day or days of theweek on which it .isdesired that the watering cycle occur are selectedby moving the appropriateswitch l-36 z-g-to the upward or closedtposition. The length of watering time desired .foreach of the lawn, areas A-D is thenset as follows: .first,,dials 162rz-d are rotated until the zero number on the .face of the dial appears opposite the corresponding index lose-d on cover 168. Then, dials 162ad are, inorder,

rotated until the-number designating thedesired: watering .time appears opposite the corresponding index reference marks 163a-d.

As may be seen from FIGURE 23, the-efiectiof rotating dials 162a-d to the zero setting i8. t align the edges of contactslides 160a-d with'the edge of upperguide 35.0. This position is schematically illustrated by line A"A., Subsequently, dial 1,62ais rotated until the desired watering time appears opposite the index. This extends all. of the, contact slides 160a-d to the line B"B", the distance. betweenlines A";-A and B" B" being indicative of the Watering: time d'esirediin. theareaA.

Next, dial 162]) is set. to the desired watering time. This extends contact slideslfiti'b-cto line C.'"C.", the distance between lines B" and.C-C" beingindicativeof the. length of the period during: which water .will be supplied to the distributiomsystem branch, in area B.

This operation is then repeated with ,dials 1620 and 162d. Again, the distance between lines C"-C." and D"-D" represents the. Watering time for area;C,,.aud the distance between lines. D"D" and E"-E" represents the watering time. for area D.

As motor 128 rotates, contact arm 130 successively engages contacts 134a-g. If, when contact. arm 13 0 engages. a particular one of the contacts 134a-g, the corresponding switch 136a.-g is closed, a circuit is completed to arcuate contact segmentv 138. And, if switch 140 is closed, a second circuit is completed from the contact 134 .to arcuate contact segment 142.

Motor 144 rotates contact arm assembly 146 in.:a clockwise direction, contact 258, moving in the direction shownby arrow 468 in FIGURE 10 and sliding-1y .engaging arcuate contact segment 138 and, successively, contact slides a-d. Since; motor 144 rotates at a constant speed, the distance which each of the contact slides 1 60a-d extends beyond the next adjacent slide determines the amount of timethat the associated solenoid valve circuit is activated.

When contact. arm 258 is slidingly engaged with contact slide 160 a, for example, a circuit is completed through lead 420a, terminal 428a, terminal. 112a, lead 118a, terminals 104a and 106a and lead 112a to solenoid; 84a in solenoid valve assembly 32. Energization of solenoid 84a opens pilot valve, 813a which relieves the pressure on the top of piston 69a. This opens main valve 58a and allows water to flowfrom inlet54through valve seat- 50a and outlet 56a intosupply liner-i141v and through, the sprinkler heads 44 in rea A. As contact 258 subsequently engages contact slides 1 60.b,d, similar circuits are successively completed to solenoids 84b-d. Valves Ssh-d open, in turn, andjwatenflows, successively, to the sprinkler heads 44 in areasB-D.

When switch 140 is closed, contact arm assembly 148 operates in the same manner as contact arm assernbly ,146, completing circuits through arcuate contact segment 142 to solenoids 84a-d. This, in the manner described above, successively opens valves 58a-d and water flows, in turn, to lawn areas A-D.

It is to be understood that the novel timer provided by the present invention is not limited to use in; law-n sprinkling systems, but that it is adapted to be used in any application where it is desired to successively-actuate a plurality of load circuits.

The invention maybe embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiment. is therefore to be considered in all. respects as illustrative and not restrictive, thescope of the invention being indicated by the appended claims-rather than by the toregoingdescrip- "tion, and all changes which'come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United 7 States Letters Patent is:

1. Timing mechanism comprising a plurality of load circuits; means for seriallyactivating said circuits; and means for selectively and independently varying the 'operatively associated with each of said load circuits and adapted to be successively engaged by said contact means, said conductive meansbeing contact slide members disposed sideby side in planes parallel to a plane including the circle through which said circuit activating :member rotates 'with' at least one ed e surface of each of said contact slide members located in a plane normal -to' said circle defining plane, means for moving said contact slide members relative to each other, and means for supplying current to said contact means.

2. Timing mechanism comprising a plurality of load circuits; means for serially activating said c1rcu1ts; and

means for selectively and independently varying the period forwhich each of said circuits is activated including a member rotating with uniform velocity about a' fixed 'point and carrying contact means, conductive means operatively associated with'each of said load circuits and adapted to be successively engaged by said contact means, and means for supplying current to said contact means, said conductive means being contact slide members disposed side by side in planes parallel'to a plane including the circle through which said circuit activating member rotates with at least one edge surface of each of said contact slide members located in a plane normal to said circle' defining plane and said contact means having one edge surface'thereof arranged in a plane normal to the planes in which said slide members are disposed and at an angle to the plane in which the edge surfaces of the slide members are located and arranged to successively contact the edge surfaces of adjacent slide members.

3. The timing mechanism of claim 2, wherein said edge surfaces of said slide members are all of the same length and selectively operable adjusting means are connected to each of said slide means and arranged to unidirecrent supply means'includes a plurality of sources of current corresponding to a predetermined number of periods, means serially connecting said sources to said brush means, and means interposed between said brush means. and each of'said sources for interrupting the current to said brush means. I

7. The timing mechanism of claim 6,; including a second member rotating withuniform velocityabout the same point-as said first member and carrying second contact means arranged to engage said brush means and the edges of the slide means, means serially-connecting said 4 second contact means to said sources, and-means for select1ve1y rendermg saidconnecting means inoperative.

8. Timing mechanism comprising a plurality of load circuits, means for serially activating said circuits, and

selectively operable means for automatically serially activating said circuits for a second-"time in "a period of predetermined duration, said circuitact'ivating means including first and second members rotating with uniform velocity about a fixed point and carrying first and second contact means, respectively, third and fourth contact means adapted to be engaged by said first and second contact means, respectively, first switch means interposed between said third contact means and a power source, and second switch means interposed between said first switch means and said fourth contact means.

9. Timing mechanism comprising a plurality of load.

circuits, means for automatically serially activating said circuits in each of a predetermined number of periods, selectively operable switch means for preventing said circuits from being activated during any of said periods -without preventing activation of said circuits during the remainder of said periods, and means for selectively and independently varying the period for which each of said circuits is activated, said switch means being connected between the means for serially activating said load circuits and the means for varying the durations of the periods for which said load circuits are activated.

10. The timing mechanism of claim 9, wherein the number of means for preventing the load circuits from being activated is equal to the number of predetermined periods. v 11. The timing mechanism of claim 9, wherein said load circuits are connected in parallel to serialy activated sources of current and said means for preventing said circuits from being activated comprises switch means interposed between one of said sources of current and said load circuits.

12. The timing mechanism of claim 11, wherein the number of sources of current is equal to the number of said periods andindependently operable switch means are interposed between each of said sources of current and said load circuits.

13. The timing mechanism of claim 12, wherein said sources of current comprise contact means equidistantly spaced about the periphery of a circle, a conductive member rotating with uniform angular velocity about the center of said circle and successively engaging each of said contact means, and means for supplying current to said conductive member.

14. The timing mechanism of claim 13, wherein said supply means includes a commutator member surrounding the center of said circle and said conductive member is arranged to continuously engage said commutator member as it rotates about the center of said circle.

15. The timing mechanism of claim 11, including additional means connecting said load circuits in parallel to each of said serially activated sources of current, and means for selectively rendering said alternate connecting means inoperable.

16. The timing mechanism of claim 12 wherein said means for supplying current to said conductive member comprises a high voltage source, transformer means, means'conneeting said transformer means to said high voltage source, and means connecting said transformer means to said conductive member.

17. Timing means comprising a plurality of load circuits, means for serially activating said circuits, and means for. delaying for a selectively variable interval the activa- --tion of the first of said circuits, said last-named means comprising a shaft rotating at uniform velocity, an arcuate brush member disposed on the periphery of a circle having as its center the axis of rotation of said shaft, means.

13 load circuits, and means for selectively angularly displacing said second rotating member with respect to said shaft.

19. Timing mechanism comprising a plurality of load circuits, means for serially activating said circuits in each said periods, and selectively operable means for automatically serially activating said circuits for a second time during each of said periods in which said circuits are not prevented from beng activated.

5 References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,541,247 2/1951 Herr 307-1l2 2,905,239 9/1959 Dietz 307l41.4

LLOYD McCOLLUM, Primary Examiner. 

2. TIMING MECHANISM COMPRISING A PLURALITY OF LOAD CIRCUITS; MEANS FOR SERIALLY ACTIVATING SAID CIRCUITS; AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY AND INDEPENDENTLY VARYING THE PERIOD FOR WHICH EACH OF SAID CIRCUITS IS ACTIVATED INCLUDING A MEMBER ROTATING WITH UNIFORM VELOCITY ABOUT A FIXED POINT AND CARRYING CONTACT MEANS, CONDUCTIVE MEANS OPERATIVELY ASSOCIATED WITH EACH OF SAID LOAD CIRCUITS AND ADAPTED TO BE SUCCESSIVELY ENGAGED BY SAID CONTACTS MEANS, AND MEANS FOR SUPPLYING CURRENT TO SAID CONTACT MEANS, SAID CONDUCTIVE MEANS BEING CONTACT SLIDE MEMBERS, DISPOSED SIDE BY SIDE IN PLANES PARALLEL TO A PLANE INCLUDING THE CIRCLE THROUGH WHICH SAID CIRCUIT ACTIVATING MEMBER ROTATES WITH AT LEAST ONE EDGE SURFACE OF EACH OF SAID CONTACT SLIDE MEMBERS LOCATED IN A PLANE NORMAL TO SAID CIRCLE DEFINING PLANE AND SAID CONTACT MEANS HAVING ONE EDGE SURFACE THEREOF ARRANGED IN A PLANE NORMAL TO THE PLANES IN WHICH SAID SLIDE MEMBERS ARE DISPOSED AND AT AN ANGLE TO THE PLANE IN WHICH THE EDGE SURFACES OF THE SLIDE MEMBERS ARE LOCATED AND ARRANGED TO SUCCESSIVELY CONTACT THE EDGE SURFACES OF ADJACENT SLIDE MEMBERS. 